Provide an environment that encourages social interaction across all ages within the local community and surrounding areas. Our age range is 5 to 85 +

We provide a live theatre experience, affordable to all in the WMDC community and even beyond.

History of Normanton 5 Towns Musical Theatre Society

The Normanton and Altofts Dramatic and Operatic Society was formed in 1925 with an amalgam of members from the Catholic and Methodists Churches on Wakefield Road. Details up to the 1950's were passed to our President John Kappes by his mother Marion, a founder member, who appeared in our first ever production "Yeoman of the Guard". This first performance took place in the old Salvation Army Citadel on Church Lane.

Over the years we have lead a somewhat nomadic existence, when it comes to venues we have been based or performed at. From our original home in the Citadel we moved to the "Town Club" in the mid 1930's through to 1953 when we then moved to the Majestic for our productions of "Over She Goes" and "Irene" where John Kappes had his face slapped every night of a 10 night run.

In these early years the society was the proving ground to Frances Cox, a school teacher, turned professional actress whose many credits included Coronation Street, Open All Hours, Al Creatures Great and Small, Casualty and The League of Gentlemen. It was also in the early 1950's when Alan and Sally Dinsdale, the parents of TV celebrity Reece Dinsdale, trod the boards with the society.

In 1954 we performed "The Quaker Girl" but were forced by rising expenses to rest the society after this production. It was not until 1962 when we re-emerged as a performing cast, primarily under the guidance of Ken Caswell and based at the Girls Grammar School with a production of "White Horse Inn". In 1963 "The Desert Song", with many returning old hands, was a tremendously well received performance, cementing the society in the minds of the Normanton Community. We were settled and enjoying what was to many a golden period for almost 40 year. During this time we changed our name to "The Normanton Theatre Company" and following our move in 2001 to the Castleford Civic Centre and with an influx of members from the surrounding areas it was decided to change our name to "The 5 Towns Musical Theatre Society" a name we still proudly hold today.

In 2003 again due to rising expenses we were forced to relocate back to our home town of Normanton, we are happily still there, based for rehearsals in the Conservative Club, performing twice a year either a Musical or Cabaret and a Pantomime at the Alice Bacon Centre.

2015 marks the 90th anniversary since our formation and our wish is to continue providing access to the wonderful world of theatre for one and all, a difficult task but with the continued efforts of the society members, the 5 Towns community and hopefully both Normanton Town and Wakefield council this is something we can achieve for many years to come.